October 13, 2011 |
So heres a highly un-edited version of an interview which took place in the Chopard Lounge at Cannes film festival a few months back. Armed with a load of slightly dodgy questions from team 10, I had the opportunity to sit down with Marisa Berenson and talk all things Cinema/Cannes/Chopard….and anything else actually. Became quite serious by the end. A spiritual journey with Marisa and Vince perhaps? Apologies for the slightly random nature of what your about to read, this is what happens when you meet such a legend. The one question I failed to ask (which is now burnt into my memory as a single regret) was ’ What was it like lacing Miss Piggy’s corset? But we’ll let the attached picture do the talking. Was a right laugh from the looks of things?!
10: So I’m excited to find your drinking tea by the looks of it…
MB: I am. Do you want some? It’s cold but…
10: Oh no, Just as an Englishman abroad.. makes me kind of proud?!
MB: Yes, well from morning to evening I drink tea…one of the most civilised cultures the English.
10: Thanks…not sure about myself but still.
MB: Haha, I’m sure you are.
10: SO I have an office full of Queens to represent, and a few funny questions to throw at you.
MB: Haha! And what magazine is this? This is for Time Magazine?
10: This is for 10 magazine. T-e-n. Are you aware of 10 at all?
MB: I’m actually not, do you have a copy?
10: Oh no! How bad! I don’t unfortunately, but we recently did a feature on Tom Ford, and obviously he spoke very highly of you….
MB: Oh yes? I LOVE Tom Ford!
10: And obviously you featured in the show also?
MB: Yes. He is actually one of my favourite people.
10: Because that was going to be one of my sneaky questions, Is he as handsome in person?
MB: He most certainly is. The most handsome, but he also has an inner beauty. Which is why he remains so beautiful and doesn’t change, because he kind of radiates Tom you know. He has this incredible gentleness and this elegance of the soul, and he’s just a very very elegant human being in every way.
10: I suppose you mean in terms of being an artist as well? MB: Yes, he has such incredible taste, and it just exudes from him in every way. There’s nothing he touches that doesn’t turn to instant gold or beauty in some form.
10: And in terms of you career, obviously modelling and being an actress. I was wondering how you felt about the way that these days the lines are now blurred?
MB: Well I think that when I was modelling the difference is that there very unique and very strong personalities you know? Today they Which is probably why they are putting actresses on the covers today because I think they must have stronger personalities, and because film makes people dream…actresses make people dream and cinema…you know Cannes- that’s why everybody’s here!
10: So in terms of modelling do you feel the era of these personalities ended at some point in particular? Or when did it peak?
MB: I don’t know actually. There was the whole time when the shows started because when I was modelling we didn’t do fashion shows. So in the 80’s I think- when all the supermodels came because they actually took over from the actresses. Hollywood at that time wanted you to look like the girl next door, and wear no make-up and be an intellectual. Suddenly these beautiful women came along and started shining and taking the places of actresses on the cover of magazines and in the world in general.
10: Do you think that was down to charisma?
MB: Yes! Exactly-so I think then Hollywood woke up and thought hmmm this is not okay, we have to get our place back…the glamour and dreams that these girls had sort of taken for a while and now I think it’s back again. Hollywood is back! Actresses are back because they are kind of celebrating that again. Just because your glamorous and sexy doesn’t mean you’ve no talent or you’re not intelligent. I mean its different now. There was a period where you couldn’t be too glamorous because you weren’t taken too seriously.
10: So seeing we’re sat here in the Chopard lounge…here’s a random one from the queens- Are diamonds really a girls best friends?
MB: Haha! Really depends on the girl!
10: Well I suppose the red carpet is the ultimate showcase for them?
MB: Yes! The ultimate glamorous occasion- under the spotlight.
10: And obviously we’ve read so much about your personal history, your childhood…are there any kind of? Oh this is a stupid question really…are there any exceptional moments you can share with us?
MB: You know I’ve been so lucky in life…there have been so many.
I’m coming out with this new book called a life in pictures in October which Steven Meisel is art directing…and Rizolli is editing, and its all my life so there in that book are many many of the great moments.
10: So I suppose we’ll have to do a special feature on that in 10? Or on the blog?
MB: Absolutely! That would be nice.
10: Now I’m struggling slightly with the French. Don’t speak any at all actually. Was wondering how many languages you speak..we’ve heard lots.
MB: Well I speak French and English and Italian…fluently.
I get along in Spanish and I used to speak fluent German, but it’s gotten a bit rusty over the years. I studied it at school, so I can get around.
10: So it must be amazing to be able fit in all around the world?
MB: Yes. It is actually- It’s a huge advantage to feel at home everywhere and to be able to communicate with all kinds of people.
10: I wish I could!
MB: You can…you just have to plug yourself in, when you go to sleep at night plug yourself into a few languages. Apparently there are some techniques that are pretty good these days.
10: I’ll have to give that a go when I get home. Ok-here are a few quick fire questions I’ve been instructed to ask. Bare with me. What’s your favourite food?
MB: Oh well…erm
10: If you could eat all day everyday what would be your most desired dish?
MB: Well I’m a big health fanatic.
I’m a big vegetable/salad person. I make the best salads apparently. And my salad dressing is unique.
10: Your salad dressing is unique?
MB: Apparently!
10: That’s exciting!
MB: Yes. But you know I do eat salads and vegetables all day. And fruit. And there are certain things I don’t ever eat..like dairy.
10: Feel I need to take a few leaves out of your book actually. Return to London with a fresh outlook.
MB: Yes. Well the next thing I’m doing is a health and well being book. Everybody is always asking me how to take care of yourself, and how to look good. I have lived a certain philosophy my own life, It’s a sort of a holistic philosophy. Body mind and spirit you know?
10: Sure. And going back to you speaking all these languages. (reading from list again) Are there any favourite words that you love to reel off?
MB: Ha!
10: Be it a swear word…
MB: No I…
10: Or something less naughty?
MB: Well there’s a word I use on my off days which is discombobulated.
10: That’s a pretty good one.
MB: It’s the greatest word. It really encompasses everything you feel…when your feeling kind of…discombobulated. And then on the other side I think ‘at peace’, because to be at peace is wonderful.
10: Especially on a Sundays?
MB: Haha. On every day you know! So there’s peace, and then there’s discombobulated. You have to find the balance. Peace is good if you can get it all the time, but since its not that easy you know.
10: And where is your favourite place? Your safe haven? Here in Cannes?
MB: Oh goodness no! It would be wherever my house is going to be eventually that I’ve dreamed of in my head, and I don’t know where that is yet. By the sea somewhere and with my vegetable garden, fruit trees, flowers and many animals…including pigs.
10: WOW!
MB: And my daughter, and my friends, and her friends. Sort of a paradise I’m going to create somewhere on this earth, but I’m not sure where yet.
10: And my final two questions to ask you (reading from list) what do you love? And what do you hate?…again VERY random I’m afraid.
MB: Oh my goodness…well I love a lot of things…I love life! There’s so many wonderful things in life.
10: Well it sounds like you’ve had lots of wonderful experiences.
MB: And I hate violence!
10: You hate violence.
MB: Yeah!
10: Fair enough really. Well that was a bit of a strange way to end the interview.
MB: Yeah…haha.
10: But thank you very much!
MB: Mmmhmm. Your very welcome.
10: Pleasure to meet you.
MB: Well you too!
by Vincent Levy
